Public Safety team members describe how their years of service prepared them to further the department’s mission of providing a safe and secure environment for all on campus.
What is Your Military Background?
CHAUN JONES, COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND PROGRAMS SERGEANT: I served 21 years in the Connecticut Army National Guard, Military Police Corps, retiring at the rank of First Sergeant. I have been deployed outside of the United States several times to various countries, to include Panama, Kuwait, and Iraq.
MARC GARGIULO, CORPORAL: I served with the United States Army Connecticut National Guard from 1993 until 1999 as a Military Police officer (MP). In 1995, I was deployed to Panama where my unit worked hand-in-hand with the Panamanian National Police (PNP) to conduct law-enforcement/security operations in that country.
TIMOTHY MCGRATH, OFFICER: I served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1983–1993, both on active duty and in the Reserves. I was trained as an infantryman and as an interrogator/translator. The highlight of my tour was a cruise of the Mediterranean Sea aboard a U.S. Navy vessel.
How Long Have You Been Part of UHart’s Public Safety Team and What Led You Here?
JONES: I’ve been part of the UHart family for five years. After retiring from the Connecticut State Police, I sought a career that was familiar to the work I had been involved in my entire adult life. I have had several family members, friends, and neighbors attend the University. They all spoke very highly of the community and suggested that I would be a good fit.
GARGIULO: I have been with the University of Hartford Department of Public Safety since September 2016. In May 2016, I retired from my role as a Captain with the State of Connecticut Department of Correction after 22 years. A former co-worker had begun working for UHart, and as he talked to me about the job, I thought it sounded interesting, so I applied.
MCGRATH: I initially worked in the Public Safety department beginning in 2014. I came here to work with fellow retirees from the Hartford Police Department, where I’d worked for 20 years. In 2017, I moved on to another job, but returned to UHart last October. My son just completed his first year here.
Timothy McGrath, Public Safety OfficerMy military background prepared me to carry out the day-to-day mission of UHart’s Public Safety Department, follow policy and procedures, communicate effectively with students and staff, and maintain a safe environment for all.
How Has Your Military Background Prepared You for Your Work on the Public Safety Team?
JONES: One of the first lessons I learned as a soldier is that every soldier is a leader, and to be a good leader, you must be a good communicator. The army ensures this through training, drills and team building exercises. I rely on this training and experience every day as a supervisor in Public Safety, when responding to situations within the UHart community.
GARGIULO: A military background can help a person remain calm and focused during sometimes high-stress and dynamic situations. Serving in the military, especially while deployed to another country, also exposes you to different cultures and diverse populations.
MCGRATH: My military background prepared me to carry out the day-to-day mission of UHart’s Public Safety Department, follow policy and procedures, communicate effectively with students and staff, and maintain a safe environment for all.
What About UHart’s Public Safety Team Deserves a Spotlight?
JONES: The department works in partnership with the community to adopt a culture that is consistent with the community’s values. We focus on the prevention of crime, while demonstrating that everyone matters.
GARGIULO: Several members of the Department of Public Safety are retired from law enforcement careers, departments of correction, and fire departments. In addition to working as a Public Safety Corporal for the University of Hartford, I am an Emergency Medical Technician for a commercial ambulance service in Hartford. Also, many in the department, including myself, are parents of children who attend the University. We are helping to provide a safe environment for our own families and those of our co-workers.
MCGRATH: I feel that most staff and students have no idea of the wealth of knowledge and experience that our Public Safety team possesses.
Meet The Officers
Community Relations and Programs Sergeant
Corporal
Public Safety Officer